The influence of Bambara groundnut shells biochar on the early growth of sweet corn variety in the sub-humid tropics

Abstract

Using biochar from underutilized crops residues such as Bambara groundnut shells could address the problem of crop waste disposal in  the sub-humid tropical regions where residue disposal could pose a great difficulty in adoption and integration of these crops into the  existing cropping systems. An experiment was conducted at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus to study the early  performance of corn under varying levels of biochar from Bambara groundnut shells. The treatments consisted of five levels (0, 5, 10, 15  and 20 t ha^-1) of biochar laid out in a completely randomized design replicated three times. Data were collected on growth and nutrient  content of the crop. The results revealed that application of 10 t ha^-1 biochar was optimum for number of leaves, leaf area, root dry  weight, shoot dry weight, total dry weight, root volume, root surface area, ash content and nutrients uptake whereas, root length was optimum at the application of 5 t ha^-1. Other parameters were not influenced by biochar application on the crop. Thus, application of 10 t  ha^-1 was optimum for the increased performance of sweet corn in the study area.